Call for musicians

• Period: 10. – 19. July 2026

The Grafenegg Academy is an international orchestral residency for exceptional young professional musicians. In 2026, participants will work closely with composer Georg Friedrich Haas and conductor Ilan Volkov on the world premiere of a major new orchestral work by Haas, and perform it alongside music by Ludwig van Beethoven and Anton Webern. Selected participants receive full financial support, including accommodation, meals, travel reimbursement and a financial allowance of approximately €850.

In 2026, the Grafenegg Academy centres on a major orchestral project with Georg Friedrich Haas, one of the most influential composers of our time. At its heart is the world premiere of Hyena II, a large-scale new work developed in collaboration with the Academy musicians and conducted by Ilan Volkov.

Alongside the new work, the programme includes music by Ludwig van Beethoven and Anton Webern, generating a musical dialogue across styles and eras that invites musicians to reflect on how different musical languages can express tension, crisis and renewal:

• ANTON WEBERN
  Im Sommerwind
• LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
  Leonore Overture No. 3 op. 72a
• GEORG FRIEDRICH HAAS
  Hyena II (World Premiere, commissioned by the Grafenegg Festival)

This programme forms the core of a full concert day dedicated to the presentation of Haas’s complete Hyena Trilogy, exploring how music can transform biographical experience into artistic expression and engaging with themes of self-destruction and reinvention:

Concert day schedule
18 July 2026

• 02.00 pm · Film
  Hyena I (Recording of the 2016 premiere by Klangforum Wien)
• 03.15 pm · Public Panel Discussion
  Axel Brüggemann · Moderation
• 06.00 pm · Evening Concert I
  Grafenegg Academy Orchestra
  Webern / Beethoven / Haas: Hyena II (World Premiere)
• 09.00 pm · Evening Concert II
  Haas: Hyena III for storyteller and four microtonally tuned pianos
  (World Premiere, commissioned by the Grafenegg Festival)

Throughout the residency, participants will also engage with workshops, lectures, discussions and excursions that open artistic and cultural perspectives and encourage them to explore interpretation, identity and the societal role of the artist today.

• Professional musicians and promising advanced music students (finished bachelor’s degree)
• Age limit: 35 years
• Course language: English

Successful applicants will be highly talented young professional musicians with a strong artistic curiosity and a desire to develop beyond purely technical performance. Openness to new ideas and an ambition to shape the musical landscape of tomorrow are valued qualities. 

Selected participants must be in residence for the full eight days of the Grafenegg Academy and be available for intensive rehearsals, preparing the repertoire in depth with a focus on the music and the collective process.

The Grafenegg Academy residency includes daily orchestral rehearsals, sectional rehearsals with mentors, Music Lab lectures and workshops, round table discussions, social gatherings, and other collaborative formats.

• 10 July: Arrival day
• 11– 18 July: Residence
• 18 July: Concert Day
• 19 July: Departure day

Participants should arrive on Friday, 10 July and depart on Sunday, 19 July.

Participation in the Grafenegg Academy is free of charge, and all selected musicians receive accommodation, meals, local transport and a financial allowance.

The following positions are available:

• Violin (1st and 2nd) / 22 places available
• Viola / 8 places available
• Cello / 6 places available
• Double bass / 4 places available
• Flute (+ Picc.) / 3 places available
• Oboe (+ EH) / 3 places available
• Clarinet (+ E♭ + Bhn + Bass) / 3 places available
• Bassoon (+ Double Bsn.) / 3 places available
• Horn / 4 places available
• Trumpet / 3 places available
• Trombone (+ Tenor Trombone) / 2 places available
• Tuba / 1 place available
• Percussion / 3 places available

Application deadline

Interested musicians should submit a completed application via MUVAC by Tuesday, 20 January 2026. 

Completed applications require the following:

1. Curriculum vitae in English (maximum of two pages)
2. List of up to 10 contemporary works already performed 
   (orchestral, chamber or solo literature)
3. Audition videos:
   (each work recorded in one separate, unedited take – no splicing or audio enhancements)
   - One piece composed in the 21st century (complete or excerpt, max. 8 minutes)
   - One additional piece of your choice (complete or excerpt,max. 8 minutes; any style or period)
   - One standard orchestral audition excerpt of your choice
   These selections should demonstrate stylistic versatility, musical personality and orchestral proficiency. Applicants are encouraged to choose contrasting pieces that show different aspects of their playing.
4. Letter of motivation in English, answering the following questions:
   - Why do you want to participate in the Grafenegg Academy, and what interests you most about it?
   - What exciting or unusual projects have you participated in recently?
5. Letter of recommendation from a professional orchestra, a manager/promoter of classical music concerts, or a recognised personality in the classical music field.

There is NO application fee. Please note that all documents must be uploaded via MUVAC. Only complete applications will be considered.

The Artistic Team will review applications and recordings. Successful candidates will be contacted by Wednesday, 25 February 2026 with further information.

Each position in the Grafenegg Academy is fully funded by Grafenegg and includes:

• Accommodation in twin rooms in the newly built Grafenegg Cottages
• All local transport to and from Vienna
• Subsistence costs / catering during the duration of the Grafenegg Academy
• An additional stipend up to € 850.- for the entire duration of Grafenegg Academy

Travel expenses will be reimbursed fully or partially up to a fixed amount, depending on the point of origin. More information will be provided after confirmation of participation.

Matías Alzola · Team Grafenegg Academy / Project Manager

academy@grafenegg.com
+43 (0) 2735 5500 510

Apply on MUVAC

Venue
3485 Grafenegg 10
Austria
Europe